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Bluejay wrestlers finish third in McAlester Tournament

By: Casey Porter

The Bluejay grapplers gassed up the bus and headed to McAlester where they had a great weekend placing 10 out of 11 of the wrestlers they brought. Heading into one of the toughest tournaments of the year at Carl Albert, the Bluejays surge of confidence, gained from this weekend, will be sorely needed. Head coach Jack O’Connor is pleased with the progress of his team. 

“This weekend was a really good weekend and the kids are starting to see results from all of their hard work they have put in,” O’Connor said. 

Weighing around 85 pounds, Aaron Kitch showed his heart and toughness by placing sixth at 103 pounds. Kitch has steadily improved each time out this year and loves wrestling and it shows. 

Despite having a state placer from Texas and a state runner up from Oklahoma in their bracket at 112 pounds, freshman Ryan Kitch, Aaron’s younger brother, and sophomore Kolt Rinehart both placed.

The two faced off for third place and Rinehart won a very close overtime match placing him third, while Kitch brought home fourth place honors.   

“The competition at this weight is definitely a good thing because it will sharpen us and make us better,” O’Connor said. 

At 119 pounds senior Corey Cummings continues to wrestle consistently and show improvement making his first finals match of the year. Leading in the second period, Cummings got caught in a leg ride which eventually turned into the banana splits, a five point move, and couldn’t recover, losing the finals match 13-9. Cummings finished as the runner up, a showing his coach was pleased with.   

“Corey’s wrestling well, last time out he beat a two time state placer and he can see where all his hard work is paying off and he’s enjoying it,” O’Connor said. 

At 103 pounds sophomore Jeff Russell won four matches and placed sixth. The pool style tournament allowed Russell to get in eight matches. At 140 pounds junior Dillon Turpin stepped up and finished second in his bracket.  

Turpin also got caught in the banana splits and couldn’t come back. O’Connor feels like the finals match appearance will motivate Turpin.   

“You can really see Dillon wanting to work harder and harder the more he wins” O’Connor said. 

The leader of the team, Ryan Bilyeu was prepping for next weekend when he will see two of the top wrestlers at 145 pounds by taking home the gold medal again. The finals match was dominated by Bilyeu, 13-3, keeping Bilyeu’s undefeated season alive. 

At 160 pounds senior Josh Russell, better known as “Turtle”, keeps using his powerful headlock and incredible hustle, and keeps improving by finishing fourth this weekend. O’Connor is very impressed with Russell on the mat.  

“Josh is one of the hardest workers we’ve had in a while and his hard work is paying off,” O’Connor commented. 

At 189 pounds John Kane had two state placers in his bracket and finished fourth.  “John has as much talent as anybody in the room, so as a coach you’re constantly trying to push the kid, and he about had a state placer beat this week so he is getting better,” O’Connor said. 

At 215 pounds sophomore Tanner Goddard went 5-2 on the weekend en route to a fourth place finish.   

“Tanner has always wrestled at the heavier weights in pee wee, so he’s not used to taking as many shots, but he’s learning fast and is a very good wrestler.” O’Connor said.  

The Bluejays hope to use the momentum they created this past weekend and carry that into this week for homecoming, on Thursday, when they host Western Heights.  After homecoming it’s off to one of the toughest tournaments of the year in the Carl Albert Invitational.   

The junior high wrestlers were not in action this weekend, but will dual Western Heights Thursday at 6:00 just before homecoming. This weekend the junior high grapplers will wrestle in the Edmond Santa Fe J.V. tournament. 

Pee Wee Wrestling

United States Jr. Novice Championships at the State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City

United States Jr. Open Championships at the State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City